By Debbie Bolles

Dr. Emily Saultz Bowen had two choices for her college sorority community service requirement: nursing home or playground. Most chose playground, so she decided to tackle the less-popular assignment. It was a decision that would change her life.

“I walked into the first room and there was this lady who was a resident. We chatted for an hour. Then six weeks turned into three and a half years,” she said. “She was a special lady who had a profound impact on my career path.”

Dr. Emily Saultz Bowen

Watching the woman’s gradual physical and mental decline gave Dr. Bowen an appreciation for working with geriatric patients. While some might consider that task a heavy emotional burden, she treasured listening to the woman’s stories and helping her cope with end-of-life challenges.

“Her memory and functional status declined, but her independence, dignity, and quality of life were extremely important to her,” she said. “I began to understand the importance of caring for your patients as people and not just treating their disease.”

Dr. Bowen’s sensitivity to the needs of geriatric patients and innate ability to listen intently earned her the Lorraine Sulkin-Schein Medical Student Award in Geriatric Medicine for 2015. She also received the Hemphill-Gojer Award, given to the top medical student in internal medicine.

The Lorraine Sulkin-Schein Medical Student Award in Geriatric Medicine recognizes a medical student who has demonstrated compassion, keen interest, and commitment to the care of older adults. It is named in honor of Mrs. Schein, a longtime supporter of UT Southwestern Medical Center who bequeathed funds to promote geriatrics as a career path for medical students. She died in 2007 at the age of 89.

The Hemphill-Gojer Award was established by Ross H. and Anne Seymour Hemphill in honor of their son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Seymour Hemphill; their daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Gojer; and Anne Hemphill’s parents, E. Clyde and Florine Allen Seymour. Dr. Hemphill and Dr. Gojer are both UT Southwestern Medical School alumni.

“Dr. Bowen is an exceptional student. She has a wonderful blend of intelligence, great interpersonal skills, and pleasant personality. She truly goes the extra mile for her patients and is a role model for others,” said Dr. Hari Raja, Professor of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Vivyenne Roche, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Geriatrics Fellowship Program, said Dr. Bowen’s compassion for older patients earned her the geriatric honor.

“She pays particular attention to the whole person, incorporating the patient’s function and goals of care into her management plan. She is thoughtful, thorough, gentle, and will be a wonderful advocate for her patients. She wants to improve patient care,” Dr. Roche said.

A Baylor University graduate who double-majored in economics and business, Dr. Bowen set her sights on medicine early. She declared a desire to become a doctor after seeing certain “Sesame Street” and “Barney” episodes. Volunteering at a hospital emergency room in high school cemented that path, as did her experience with residents of a Waco-area nursing home.

The Amarillo native married her high school sweetheart, Brad, a certified public accountant in Dallas. She will stay in Dallas for her internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern, followed by potential fellowships in geriatrics and palliative care. She aspires to practice primary care geriatrics, with an emphasis on caring for the underserved.

“A solid internal medicine foundation will allow me to care for older adults who often have multiple chronic conditions,” she said. “The patients are the best part of practicing medicine, and I hope to build relationships with patients and their families over time.”

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